This spring, retired teacher Melanie Moore founded The Book Bus, a mobile bookstore based in Cincinnati, Ohio, that she built out of a 1962 VW Transporter truck. The bus sells new and gently used books, and Moore uses a portion of all the profits made from the Book Bus to purchase new books for children and classrooms in low income areas.
Depending on the weather, Moore typically sets up shop at farmers markets, flea markets or other outdoor events, CityBeat reported. When the weather isn't favorable, she can most often be found at area coffee shops.
Before retiring to pursue her bookstore dream, Moore was a school teacher for 25 years. She attended the Paz & Associates "bootcamp" and for a time she considered opening a traditional bricks-and-mortar location, but in the end decided that a bookmobile was the way to go. And she realized that she already had the right vehicle--her husband's 1962 Transporter.
Moore added that when she buys books to donate to children and schools, she makes every purchase from the Blue Manatee Literacy Project bookstore, which itself donates a book for every book sold. Said Moore: "It's a win-win!"